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Ruckus in the commons

Staff writer

Loud voices and roaring laughter could be heard coming from the Marion Middle School/High School commons room Tuesday morning.

If it had been a school day, school staff would have hurried to the scene to see what the ruckus was all about.

But Tuesday was not a school day — at least not for students. However, it was a school day of sorts for district staff as all employees with Marion-Florence USD 408 reported for the first day of inservice.

Setting a humorous tone was new superintendent Lee Leiker who told employees he was going to be giving them several expectations going into the new school year.

Other topics to be covered included getting to know each other better, annual requirements and procedures, looking at assessment data, and sharing expectations.

Leiker also told staff they would learn new teaching strategies and "laugh a lot."

After distributing various colored pieces of paper to staff, Leiker asked members to participate in an exercise.

First, the superintendent asked all high school teachers to raise their hands. Then asked the same for all elementary and middle school teachers, as well as bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other employee groups.

Leiker then noted that, for the most part, high school teachers were sitting together in one area of the room, as were middle school teachers, bus drivers, custodians, and the other groups.

He then asked people who had the same colored paper to sit together. After staff noisily made that move, he once again asked high school teachers and the other respective groups to raise their hands.

This time, high school teachers were distributed throughout the room, as were the other groups.

"If you think of where everyone was sitting before our little mix-up you can see why kids sit where they do on the first day of school," Leiker said, explaining that was his first expectation.

"Students are going to want to sit where they are most comfortable," he continued. "No matter what our age or experience no one wants to feel uncomfortable."

Leiker then shared information about his family, which includes his wife, Diane, and sons, Jordan and Landon.

Leiker noted his oldest son had just left for college nine days ago and the family was feeling his absence.

"We do a lot of family things together, hiking, camping, fishing, playing games together," Leiker said. "But when he left I realized we didn't do enough.

"Your family is the most important thing," the superintendent told staff. "Your family comes first. Yes, school and students are important, but your family is the most important."

Explaining more about his family, Leiker noted his youngest son is very "tenderhearted," and told staff there could be students of all ages — not just elementary — who also are sensitive.

"Teachers, think of how many students are in your classroom whose hearts or minds may be hurting a little bit," Leiker said. "Cooks, bus drivers, teachers, aides! Do you know you may be that students' medicine for that day?"

Leiker then explained his second expectation: Don't be too quick to judge. There may be more (to an individual) than first appears.

Inservice continued with Leiker asking staff to examine their own personality type, deciding whether they were more like a tugboat, ship, motor boat, or sailboat.

Earlier, principals introduced new staff members, coaches, and student teachers who will be working in the district this year.

Beginning the morning, Marion Chamber of Commerce treated staff to a welcome breakfast and awarded prizes to staff coming up with the right answers in a Marion trivia game.

Thursday will be the first day of school for kindergarten through seventh grade students, ninth graders, and all new students. Friday will be the first full day for all district students.

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